Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti believes that there was a lot lacking from Inter’s performance in last night’s draw away to Roma.
Inter took the lead via Stefan de Vrij early on in the first half but went into the half time interval level after de Vrij scored an own goal. Roma took the lead through Henrikh Mkihtaryan just before the hour mark whilst Romelu Lukaku rescued Inter late on as he slotted home a penalty.
“Inter leave their last chance calmly as if they never believed they had a chance. In Rome there was no fury, just a good, normal game at the end of the season between two quality but exhausted teams,” Sconcerti began his column which featured in yesterday’s print edition of Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
“We will have to wait and see today at what point Juventus are in terms of their confusion, but I don’t think it will have the rhythm on display at the Olimpico. Juve are accustomed to decisive games even when it is looking like they are going to collapse.”
Sconcerti proceeded to discuss Inter manager Antonio Conte’s decision to deploy Marcelo Brozovic as an attacking midfielder in the Italian capital.
“Playing Brozovic as an attacking midfielder was a technical error. He played this role five years ago but then learned a lot and became a regista.”
He then returned to discuss another thing that he felt was missing from Inter’s performance.
“Above all the desire to play was missing, the conviction that this was a different match, a decisive one, was missing. It was nothing that as indicative of Conte, except for a good disposition on the pitch, and a happiness to start from behind.”
“The right signature on a season partly thrown away, as Inter were a childish team always full of desire to make trouble. There were too many controversies and too many absences.”
Sconcerti then went on to discuss the recent absence of Inter president Steven Zhang, who has not been at any of Inter’s post-lockdown matches due to being stuck in his native China.
“There is a lot of talk about how much Elliott is missing at AC Milan but the same is not said about Steven Zhang. Marotta is always there, but the players are interested in the presence of those who pay them, it is the dialogue with the boss that improves self-esteem.
“He will have to think about what Conte has also done, perhaps all his last three seasons, one of which spent at home. Maybe he needs an update too, of there is no other way to stay at the club. If he has sown a good seed in this team, it is time to make it grow. Winning the Europa League would be a fair prize for him too.”